Stalk-cutter



Patented June 23, 1885 ATTORNEYS.

,6 i Q FK IF STALK CUTTER.

J.K.PATTERSON.

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WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.JAMES K. PATTERSON, OF CRETE, NEBRASKA.

STA LK-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,812, dated June 23, 1885.

Application filed July J, 1884.

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES K. PATTERSON, of Crete, in the county of Saline and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and Improved Stalk-Cutter, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in stalk-cutters; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my new and improved stalk-cutter, taken on the line a: a: of Fig. 2; and Fig. 2 is a broken rear elevation of the machine.

A A are the two drivewheels of the ma chine, secured to the axle B, to which latter the main frame 0 is secured by the journalbloeks B B of the axle, bolted to the upright pieces C O of the frame. In this instance the main frame 0 is composed of the said upright pieces 0 C, the lower ends of which are carried near the ground, the upper crosspieee, C, braces 0 G and the tongue 0*, secured to the said crosspiece 0 The uprights O 0, below the axle 13, are correspondingly grooved upon their inner edges, as shown at (t a, to form guiding-ways for guiding the movement of the knife E, and to the outer edges of the uprights G are bolted the journalblocks F F, in which is journaled the crankshaft G, to the crank g of which the knife E is attached by the wristpiece b and bifurcated connecting-rod d.

To the ends of the crank-shaft G are secured the pinions H H, which mesh with the cogwheels I I, secured upon shaft B, so that as (No model.)

the machine isdrawn along the ground the revolution of the drive-wheels A A and the main axle B will cause the crank shaft G to revolve, which will reciprocate vertically the knife E, and cause it to cut the stalks upon the ground.

The cutting-edge of the knife E is, by preference, slightly curved, as shown at c, to render it more effective in cutting the stalks; and upon the reduced portion (2 of the connect ing-rod d is placed the coiled spring j, which acts between the said wrist-piece b and the shoulder t" of the rod, to cushion the clownstroke of the crank 9, so that in case the knife should strike a stone or other solid object the spring will yield and prevent all injury to the machine.

Constructed in the manner described it will be seen that the machine will be very efi'ective in its action, as it cuts with a reciprocating action, so that it cannot become clogged, and it will be seen also that the machine is strong, durable, and cheap, and easy to handle, having simply to be drawn along the ground by a team hitched to the tongue 0*.

Having thus described my invention,whatl claim as new, and desire to'secure by Letters Patent, is.

The stalk-cutter herein shown and described, consisting of the frame 0, drive-wheels A, axle B, crank-shaft G, cog-wheels H I, and knife E, connected to the crank by the rod (1 and wrist'piece b, the knife being guided in the grooves a of the uprights G, and provid' ed with the spring j, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

. JAMES K. PATTERSON.

Vitnesses:

H. M. WELLs, GEORGE H. HASTINGS. 

